Inflatable sectional tent



April 3, 1952 E. B. KATZENMEYER ETAL 2,591,829

INFLATABLE SECTIONAL TENT s Sheets-Shet 1 Filed Nov. 1, 1950 UFF JHL/ETYTUES Eda/1'22 April 1952 E. B. KATZ ENMEYER ETAL 2,591,329

INFLATABLE SECTIONAL TENT Filed Nov. 1, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2:

JUL/5272.055 Eda/in fiz f'aizsnmeyefi CQEJ/EgZ F-ffiazzFP 5 w April 8, 1952 E. B. KATZENMEYER |E TAL 2,591,829

INFLATABLE SECTIONAL TENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fi1 ed Nov. 1, 1950 5 gem/25H J g RUFF Patented Apr. 8, 1952 INFLATABLE SECTIONAL TENT Edwin B. K-atzenmeyer, Akron, and Carroll P. Krup Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, assignors to The B. F. Goodrich Company, New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New York Application November 1, 1950, Serial No. 193,348

15 Claims. (Cl. 135-1) This invention relates to inflatable structures for shelter purposes and especially to inflatably supported, sectional tents, lodges, huts, buildings and other shelter structures.

Prior unitary inflatable shelters such as relatively large tents having the side walls, or the roof, or both" of rubber-treated textile fabric and double-wall, pocketed construction throughout, and prior portable huts, houses, lodges, and other shelters of the pre-fabricated type of solid, stiff material such as wood, steel, aluminum and the like, have not been entirely satisfactory for the intended purpose. The inflatable shelter has required an objectionably large volume of air and extensive time for inflation, and has tended to sag or collapse in use because of substantial leakage of the inflating air through the extensive. .dual walls. The pre-fabricated shelters have been so complicated, heavy and bulky as to require special heavy-duty vehicles for their transportation, expensive foundations, skilled workmen for their assembly, and an'objectionable amount of time to assemble. An object of, the invention is to overcome the foregoing and other disadvantages of the prior shelter constructions. b

Other objects of the invention are to provide an improved, inflatably supported, shelter structure such, for example, as a tent or other building having one or more sections of impervious, flexible, non-metallic, sheet material; to provide for a single-wall, sectional construction of durable, lightweight, inflatable character; to provide for assembling and separably attaching adjacent sections of the shelter structure to one anotherwithout requiring skilled workmen; to provide for individual support and mounting of a section of the shelter structure and for coaction of the supporting means of adjoining sections; to provide for weather-proofness, air and light-tightness, foldability and portability of the tent or othei shelter structure; and to provide for simplicity of construction, convenience of manufacture and assembly, and for effectiveness of operation.

- Further objects are to provide for minimizing the volume of inflating medium required to support the tent and at the same time, to provide for"'maintaining effectively the tent in a desired shape and a taut and upright condition; to provide for conveniently and individually inflating each sectional unit of the tent and for minimizing loss of inflating medium; to provide for strong, reliable joint connections of adjacent sections of the tent; to provide for fastening adjacent sections detachably together so-as to per- 2 mit making tents of various sizes; to provide for an inflatable main frame or truss and stringer or strut assembly capable of supporting a flexible, single-thickness covering or wall of a sectional unit of the tent and capable of resisting stresses tending to collapse the flexible'wall; to

provide for supporting the flexible wall of the tent along a plurality of spaced-apart'lines intersecting one another at positions spaced-apart longitudinally and transversely of the tent as a whole; to provide for an inflatable support assembly for each section including a transverselyextending arch-type beam; and to provide for an inflatably supported end wall construction and for separably attaching the end wall to an adjacent sectional unit of the tent.

Still further objects are to provide for conveniently mounting the tent upon a supporting surfacewhich may be bare ground, or aground cloth, ora wood platform, or a concrete strip, or other suitable surface; to provide for expeditiously assembling the sections of the tent and for simultaneously inflating the individual sections; and to provide for small bulkof the packaged sections of the tent in the deflated condition. 1

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description: i

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification,

,Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of an inflatably supported-sectional tent and its inflating manifold,fconstructed in accordance with and embodying the invention, parts being broken away,

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the tent inv eludingv an inflatably supported end wall construction having a door therein, as viewed from the left hand end of the tent, parts being broken away,

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the tent, parts being broken away, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of individual main frame assemblies disposed for attachment to one another, the outer covering of the tent being removed,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view in an enlarged scale taken along line 5--5 of Fig. 3, g a

Fig. 6 is a sectional view in an enlarged scale taken along line 6-6 of Fig.1 showing a joint construction at sectional units intermediate the ends of the tent, a l

Fig. '7 is a sectional view in an enlarged scale taken along line 'l'I of Fig. 3, r a

Fig. 8 is a sectional view in an enlarged scale wall l6 formed of ta, plurality of separably'interconnected sections or panels l1, l8, and I9 having their adjacent end margins in juxtaposition and providing spaced-apart sidewalls 20, 2| and a roof 22 therebetween of single thickness and of impervious, flexible, non-metallic, sheet material such, for example, as square-woven textile fabric of nylon, fiberglass, rayon, cotton, silk, linen, or combinations thereof coated or impreggnated or otherwise treated with rubber, natural or synthetic, or other rubber-like material such as rubbery polychloroprene and, if desired, protected on the outside with a thin coating of aluminum flakes or powder applied as by a printers roll. The sectional outer covering It may be made of single thickness, rubber coated,

square-woven, .textile fabric of nylon filamentary material, and is maintained and supported as a whole in a taut, upright condition, despite its collapsible character, y :a plurality of inflatable support assemblies -or main frames 23, 24, and .25 disposed vertically and arranged in series in the longitudinal or fore and aft direction of the tent J and .separably attached to one another in end to end relation so that any desired number of sections and length of the tent l'5 can be profllfhe interconnected inflatable main frames 23,. 24, and an inflatable arched beam 26 at one end of the tent constitute, .in the inflated condition, :a stiff, articulated supporting framework'of :inflatable tubular elements for the collapsible, flexible outer covering t6, to which framework :the respective sections or panels l1, l8, 19 of the outer covering may be attached along tubular tltansyerse trusses or beams 21, 28, .29 of the main frames, in a manner described .more fully hereinafter and as shown especially in Fig. 5, so that each covering section in its taut upright supported condition comprises ,a plurality'of successive intersecting planes or planar portions with the included angle at each intersection being less than 180 at the interior face thereof, and desirably with the lines of intersection all being substantially parallel to each other, as shown are of substantially uniform and the same 11- especially in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Each main frame and its attached section or panel covering provide a complete, individual sectional unit or structure of the tent, and the individual sectional structures are disposed end to end in series along the tent.

The inflatable main frame of each sectional structure, I] and 23, J8 and 24, I9 and '25 of the tent .has a transverse truss or beam 21, 28, 29, preferably of arched or inverted, generally U- shaped form in the inflated condition, as viewed from an end of the tent, and as shown especially inFigs. 2 and 4. Thearched beam 21 of the basic individual, sectional unit or structure [1,23, for example, constitutes the primary load-carrying member of the main frame 23, and is made, preferably, unitary and tubular and .of suitable imper'vious, flexible, non-metallic sheet material having the desired strength, weather-resistance,

low-elongation, and distensibility characteristics. The material may be square-woven, cotton or rayon fabric coated or otherwise treated with suitable rubber material such as rubbery polychloroprene, which treated fabric is advantageous for its light-weight, durability and impermeability, resistance to bursting and tearing, and extensive flexibility and distensibility.

All the tubular arched beams 26, 21, 28, 29 which are disposed .'vertically and extend transversely of the tent, are mounted at the closed ends of the beams on supporting caps 30, 3!] dis posed on a suitable supporting surface or foundation 3| .such, for example, as a concrete strip, a wooden base or floor, substantially flat ground, or :other suitable .flrm surface, as shown especially in Figs. 1,, 2,3 and 9. Each arched beam, by virtue of its inflation and tubular construction, has great stiffness throughout its extent between the mounting positions at the closed ends of the beam, which stiffness is advantageous to resist objectionable buckling and bending of the main frame assemblyahd collapse of the sectional unit of the tent.

The arched beam '2l' of the basic sectional structure 11, .23 of the tent has spaced-apart, sidewall-supporting tubular portions 32, 33 and a roof-supporting tubular portion 34 interconnecting adjacent ends of the sidewall-supporting portions in integrally united, fluid-tight relation to the same, each of which portions .32, 33, 340i the beam, preferably though not necessarily, increases gradually .in diameter or tapers radially outward from .oppositeends of the portion toward the center region indicated at 35, 3B, .31 of the portion, .as shown especially .in Figs. 2 and 4. The dual .taperedconstruction is advantageous for increased load-carrying .capacity with a .lesser amount .of fabric material as compared to that of the modified constructionshownin Fig. 11 where- .in all the aforesaid portions .of the arched beam ameter. The dual tapered construction of the arched beam not onlyrequires less fabric mate- .rial as compared to the uniform diameter type of construction but at the same time, provides superior resistance to buckling and bending and to sway laterally of the tent and provides increased strength in tension and compression, in the inflated condition; and has distinct advantages for use in tents of large size which subject the inflatable main frames to .heavy static and dynamic loads, especially high wind loads.

Each sidewall-supporting portion 32, 33 and the roof-supporting portion 34 of the beam .may be made such that the longitudinal axis, indi cated by the numeral 38,.of the portion in the vertical plane of the beam is inwardly bent at approximately the center region or midpoint at 35, 36, 3? between the ends of the portion so that the tapered parts of the portion are inclined slightly relative to one another, as viewed from an end of the tent and shown especially .in Fig. 2. For example, the included angle of the bent axis of the respective sidewall-supporting portions indicated at C may be about and the included angle of the bent axis of the roof-supporting portion indicated at D may be about 166. The arrangement makes feasible a tent of approximately hexagon shape in cross-section, excluding the base or surface 3| for mounting the tent. The hexagon shape advantageously provides a ridged roof contour of flat pitch for facilitating the shedding of rain and snow;

, provides lan inwardly inclined. contour of the upper parts of the sidewalls for further facili- -tating the I shedding of rain and snow; and at arched beam at the junctions of the sidewallsupporting' portions with the roof-supporting portions, as shown especially in Fig. 2, for further strengthening the beam against objectionable sway and flexure of the arched beam in the direction transversely of the'tent. Preferably, only the beams 28, 29 of the intermediate main frames 24, 25 are, provided with the gussets.

The closed lower ends of .the sidewall-supporting portions of the arched beam 21, for

' example, have a molded, closed end .plug 40, 40 of hard rubber or other stiff plastic material adhesively secured therein and are desirably mounted detachably in the supporting caps3fl, 30 of stiff, strong material such as a suitable metal or thermosetting plastic resin or other stiff material and desirably of cupped and flanged based construction, which caps 33,

30 rest firmly on the supporting surface 3!,

as shown especially in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 9, and constitute protective bases of the beam adapted to transmit and distribute the load to the supporting surface 3i.

The respective inflatable main frames 23, 24,

supporting portion 32",33 of the beam, al-

though, as shown in Fig. 11, the strut may; if

desired, be disposed at the closed lower ends of the arched beam. i

The struts, in the inflated condition, not only resist stresses longitudinally of the tent but also function as ties and spacers of uniform length between adjacent arched beams. Also,

the struts provide continuity of support to the collapsible outer covering between adjacent beams along longitudinally-extending, transversely spaced-apart lines for preventing inward bulging of the covering and for facilitating maintenance of the collapsible covering in its taut and upright condition.

Each tubular strut 4|, 42, 43 at its free or attaching end is sealed fluid-tight by a sleeve 47 and closed end plug 48.fitting of stiff, impervious material such, for example, as hard rubber, thermosetting plastic resin, aluminum or other suitable stiff material, the fitting 47, 48 being dis- 25 have a plurality of longitudinally-extending, transversely spaced-apart, connecting struts or tubular stringers (4|, 4|) (42, 42) (43, 43) of suitable rubber-treated, square-woven cotton or rayon fabric and desirably of substantially uniformand relatively less diameter than that of the arched beam. The struts project perpendicular to the plane of the longitudinal axis of the beam substantially parallel to one anothposed, as shown in Fig. 6, within the tubular end portion of the strut in overlapping relation thereto and adhered to the fabric material of the strut as by a suitable rubber cement of the air-curing type. The exposed 'end portion 49 of the sleeve 41 has a curved configuration in section for seating conformingly against the curved wall of the adjacent arched beam in the inflated condition so as to provide for good support of the closed end of the strut by a substantial area of the beam.

For separably attaching the strut 4|, for example to the adjacent arched beam 28, a flexible strap 50 of suitable rubber-treated fabric and a slitted covering patch. 5| of suitable rubbertreated fabric are suitably adhered to the exterior of the end portion of the strut at the region of the sleeve and plug fitting 41, 48 and at each of er and constitute the secondary load-carrying membersof the main frame, The struts are fixedly secured at one of their ends to the arched beam at one side thereof in air-tight relation as by a flange 44 and overlying fabric tape construction adhesively attached there- K to and are in communication therewith through an aperture 46 in the wall of the beam, and extend toward the adjacent main frame of the tent, as shown especially in Fig. 6, forexample,

and are sealed air-tight at the other or attaching end, as shown in Fig. 6, and described more fully hereinafter. The struts are disposed spaced-apart along the beam at desired positions thereon so as to facilitate the provision of a substantially smooth, hexagonshaped exterior of the tent.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to -9 one of the struts, for example, a strut 4| of the main frame 23 is located at each junction of the sidewall-supporting portions 32, 33 with the roof-supporting portion 34 of the arched beam 21. One ofthe struts 4i is located at themidpoint or region of maximum diameter at 35,

36, 31 of each sidewall-supporting portion and desirably the roof-supporting portion. Preferably, the lowermost of the struts 4| is located approximately midway of the lower part i. e. midway between the closed lower end and the region of maximum diameter ofeach sidewallin alignment with the longitudinal axis of the tubular strut, as shown in Fig. 6. A'looped flexible strap 52 of suitable rubber-treated fabric having a suitable metal buckle 53 heldby' the looped portion of the strap and a slitted covering patch 54 of suitable rubber-treated fabric are adhesively .attached to the exterior of the arched beam at each of spaced-apart positions thereon to opposite sides of the strut and in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the tubular strut for facilitating the engagement of the straps 50, on the strut 4| with the buckles 53, 53 so as to fasten detachably the closed end portion of the strut 4| to the arched beam 28 while the curved end 49 of the stiff sleeve 41 is disposed in c'on'- forming relation against the distended wall of the arched beam. The arrangement advantageously makes feasible the secure, separable attachment of the closed end of the strut to the adjacent arched beam and at the same time avoids objectionable looseness and wobble of the connection and localized stresses on the beam by the closed end of the strut.

Adjoining sections l1, 3, I9 of the flexible outer covering l6 of the tent are arranged end to end and connected one to the other and to an 18, the crotch tape 56 to the right of the beam having a short slit therein to accommodate the desirably a flexible stringer 58 of'suitable rubbertreated fabric having slide fastener teeth 59, 59 thereon is secured as by stitches 60, 60 of suitable thread, or by a suitable rubber cement, or both. The margin 6| of the right hand covering section H at the free end thereof has suitably secured thereto a suitable stringer 62 having slide fastener teeth 59, 59 for engaging the teeth 59, 59 of the left hand covering margin .51, a separable slider (not shown) being provided for engaging and disengaging the teeth of both margins. A cover flap 63 of suitable rubber-treated fabric is desirably suitably secured to the outer side of the margin 51 of the left hand covering section H! for disposition in overlapping relation to the engaged teeth 59, 59 and part of the margin SI of the right hand covering section I! for closing the connection between the sections ll, [8 against the passage of light, rain or snow, and wind between the spaces of the engaged teeth.

- Each intermediate sectional unit including the lefthand end sectional unit of the tent has its panel l8, l9 of the flexible outer covering mounted and fixedly attached to the arched beam 28, 29 of the unit, as described hereinabove and shown especially in Figs. and 6, in a manner to facilitate the separable attachment of the panels 18, I9 to one another and to the panel ll of the right hand end or basic sectional unit of the tent shown especially inFigs. 1 and 3.

The basic sectional unit or assembly i1, 23 to which the intermediate sectional units or assemblies are connected in series, differs in several respects from the construction of the intermediate unitary sectional assembly. The basic unit has the outer covering panel i'i adhesively attached, or sewed, or both directly to the fabric material of the arched beam 2'! and terminated at the beam, as shown especially in Fig. '7. Also, it differs in that no gussets 39 are required and has an end wall 64 of suitable rubber-treated, squarewoven fabric adhesively attached to the beam as by a flange portion 55 and suitable tape 55 throughout the length of the beam 2'! at a position diametrically opposite the attachment of the outer covering I] so as to be disposed taut and vertically dependent of the tent across the entire right hand end opening of the tent defined by the beam 21.

For closing the left hand end and completin the inflatable framework of the ten shown in Fig. l, the invention provides the arched beam '26 and end wall 61 assembly adapted for separable attachment to the adjacent left end or intermediate unitary sectional assembly. The arched beam is constructed as described hereinabove, but has .no communicating struts and only a relatively narrow strip 58 of the outer covering material suitably attached at one margin thereof to the beam 26 with a suitable stringer 69 and teeth 59, 59 along the free margin of the strip 68 for engagement with the teeth 59, 59 of the slide fastener of the adjacent panel l9 of the tent as shown especially in Fig. 8. The end wall 61 of suitable rubber-treated, square-woven fabric is of the strip 68 of outer covering so as to be held in :a vertically dependent, taut condition, and has a suitable tape reinforcement adhesively secured to the beam and the end wall as shown in Fig. 8. Suitable looped straps 52, 52 and buckles 53, 53 are attached to the beam 25 as by patches 54, 154 at positions spaced-apart along the beam for connection to the straps 5B, 50 of the struts 43, 43.

The end wall 6? at its lower central region may have a suitable opening for entrance into the tent, the side margins 19, ii of the wall at the opening having desirably suitable stringers and teeth for separable engagement with cooperating teeth on the side margins of a flexible door 12 of suitable rubber-treated, square-woven fabric for closing the entrance opening, The door is desirably fixedly attached across its top to the top margin 13 of the end wall at the opening, as shown especially in Fig. 2. The arrangement facilitates quick closure of the opening and convenience of entrance to and egress from the tent.

A plurality of attachment patches 14, 14 of suitable rubber-treated, square-woven fabric and metal D-ring construction may be adhesively or otherwise suitably attached to each arched beam approximately midway of the sidewall-supporting portions thereof such that the D-rings are positioned at the exterior side of the covering panel, and also are attached to the respective arched beams at the ends of the tent at the respective ends and midway locations of the roof-supporting portions, as shown especially in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 7, for facilitating the attachment of suitable flexible guy wires or flexible bracing ropes (not shown) of nylon, hemp or other filamentary material to the beams at the exterior of the tent to hold the tent tied down to the mounting surface.

For inflating the main frame 23, 24, 25 of each sectional unit of the tent, desirably all frames and the left end arched beam 26 in a simultaneous manner, each archedbeam at a position adjacent its lower end and at the same side of the tent has a suitable inflating fitting 15 in communication with the beam and adapted for separable connection to a flexible connecting tube 16 of reinforced rubber tubing construction, for example, which connecting tube 16 is adapted for separable connection to a suitable inflating fitting TI on a flexible inflation manifold '18. The inflation manifold 18 which may be of suitable rubber-treated, square-woven fabric, has closed ends and a plurality of the inflating fittings 11, I1 spacedrapart along the manifold at positions corresponding to the positions of the arched beams 26, 2?, 29, '29 for connection to the connecting tubes 76, 76, and also has a suitable inflating fitting l9 desirably intermediate the closed ends for connection through a suitable flexible conduit 89 to a source of fluid under pressure such as air (not shown). A pressure relief valve 8| may be mounted on the manifold to prevent an inflation pressure in the main frames 23, 24, 25 sufficient to burEt the inflated beams and struts While permitting suificient inflation pressure such, for example, as three pounds per square inch (3 lbs./p. s. i.) to be maintained in the beams and struts to retain the tent in the desired upright, taut condition without objectionable sagging of the outer covering IS.

The embodiment of the tent shown in the drawings having a plurality of sectional units is relatively light-weight and can be compactly packaged in relatively small containers, both of which features are advantageous for shipping as by a transport plane; yet the tent can be quickly number of sectional units thereby making it adaptable to a variety of uses such, for example, as a briefing tent to house photographicprocessing apparatus and a picture projecting theater capableof housing a large number of persons.-

' The modified joint construction shown inFig difiers from theconstruction shown in Fig. Gin that connecting sleeves 82, 83 of suitable stiff material are adhesively secured at their end flanges to the arched beam at diametrically opposite, aligned positions thereon so that the sleeves 82, 82 project radially outward from the beam 28 for connection to the struts 4|, 42. The sleeve 82 at one side of the beam is in communication therewith and has the strut 42 of the main frame 24 mounted telescopically over the outside of the sleeve in sealed, adhered relation to the same.

The strut 4| of the adjacent main frame 23 to be connected to the beam 28 is closed by a suitable plug 84 of the stiff material inserted into the end portion of the strut 4| and suitably adhered to the strut, the assembled plug and end portion of the strut being adapted to be inserted telecopically and detachably into the other sleeve 83 mounted on the beam. The arrangement facilitates the attachment of the aligned struts, one fixedly and one detachably,- to the arched beam. The arched beam 25 at the left end of the tent may also be provided at one-side only with suitable flanged sleeves 83 mounted for receiving the assembled plug and end portionof the struts 43, 43 of the adjacent main frame 25. Instead of the flap 63, for covering the slide fastener means, the slide fastener teeth 59, 59 at each margin 51, 6| of the connected panels l1, l8 may have resilient rubber sealing strips 85, 85 of tapered construction mounted directly on the teeth to close the margins by lip-action sealing of the strips.

The modified inflatable main frame construction shown in Fig. 11 provides for a pentagon shape in cross-section of the tent. The tubular arched beam 85, 81 of each main frame 88, 89 is h of relatively large, substantially uniform diameter throughout its length rather than of the tapered construction shown especially in Fig. 4. The tubular struts 90, 98 and 9|, 9| of the main frame 88; 89 are of smaller diameter than the beam 86, 8'! and are mounted at different positions on the beam,86, 8'! than for the tapered construction, one each being at the ends of the beam, at the junction of'the vertical lower part with the in-' clined upper part of the sidewall-supporting por tions 92, 93 of the beam, and at the junction of the sidewall-supporting portions with the roofsupporting portion 94 of the beam. The arrangement, except as noted above, is otherwise like that of the main frames'of-the embodiment shown'i'n Fig. --1 and provides for directly connecting the ends of the spaced-apart beams to one another. and is suitable for relatively small tents-wherein" lightloads are carried by the main frames.

- While the tent shown in the drawings is of uniform width and height and polygonal shape in cross-section along its length, it is tobe understood that the mainframes may be dimensioned- 10 to vary the width and height and shape for providing other suitable shapes such, for example, as a tapered arrangement of the tent as a whole or in part.

Variations may be made without departing from thescope of the invention as it is defined in the following claims.v

- We claim: i 1

1. An inflatable shelter comprising a sectional covering having sections of flexible material providing "sidewalls and roof ofthe shelter, an inflatable tubular supporting framework having an articulated sectional construction and arrangement disposed in supporting relationto said covering at the sidewalls and roof portionsthereof to maintain the'flexible covering upright; and means for inflating said supporting framework.

' 2. An inflatableshelter as defined in claim 1 in which the sections of said sectional covering have margins adjoining and separably attached one tothe other, and in which thesections of said framework are separably attached to one another, each section of said framework being associated with one of said sections of said covering for suping the, individual sectional structures thereof attached relation to one disposed. end to end in 4. ;An' inflatable shelter comprising a sectional covering for'mounting upright to provide sidewalls and roofof the shelter and having sections of flexible "material in series along the shelter with margins in juxtaposition and separably joined, and a, supporting framework comprising inflatable mainframes in series along the shelter for. maintaining the flexible covering upright, each main framesupporting. a' section of. said covering'fand having inflatable tubular elements in communication with onejanother extending along the sidewalls and roof portions 'ofthe covering section in supporting relation thereto, means for separably attaching said main frames 'to one another," and means for inflating said" main frames.

5. An,inflatable shelter comprising a sectional covering having sections of flexible material in series along the shelter with margins in juxtaposition and separately joined, a supporting frameworkifor maintaining the flexible covering upright to provide sidewalls and roof of the shel-- ter, "said framework comprising j inflatable main framesinseries' along the shelter," each main frame being connected with and supporting a section of said covering, eachmain frame comprising an inflatable tubular element extending transversely. of the shelter along the sidewalls and roof portions of the covering section in supporting relation thereto and a plurality oi inflatabletubular elements disposed spaced-apart along the flrstsaid tubular element in communication therewith and projecting therefrom at a side thereof longitudinally ofthesjhelter toward the adjacent mainframe in supporting relation r ases lit to said. sidewalls and roof portions of the covering section, means on all said. inflatable tubular elements for separably attaching the same to said adjacent main frame, and means for inflating said. mainframes.

6;. An. inflatable shelter comprising; a; sectional covering of flexible material for mounting upright to form sidewalls and roof of the shelter, asectional supporting framework for maintaining saidcovering: upright and comprising: inflatable main frames each supporting a section of said, covering and constituting'therewith an individual sectional. structure having ends, said shelter having the individual sectional structures thereof disposed in end to end relation along the shelter, means for separably attaching said individual sectional structures one to the other in the end to end relation, and means for inflating; said inflatable main frames.

inflatable shelter comprising individual sectional structures having ends and disposed end to end along the shelter in separably attached relation to one another, each individual sectional structure comprising a covering section of flex.- ible material for mounting upright to provide sidewalls and roof of the shelter and an inflatable main frame attached to said covering. section for supporting the same upright, said mainframe comprising an inflatable tubular beam extending transversely of the shelter adjacent one u end of. the sectional structure and extending continuously along the sidewalls and roof portions of said covering section in supporting relation thereto and said main frame comprising. a plurality of inflatable tubular struts spaced-apart along said beam in communication therewith and projectin longitudinally of the shelter from said beam at a side thereof toward the other end of the sectional structure in supporting relation to said portions of said covering section, means for separably attaching said individual sectional structures to one another, and means for inflating, said main frame of each individual sectional structure.

8; An inflatable shelter as defined in claim 7 in which said covering section of the individual sectional structure in the upright supported. condition comprises a plurality of successive intersecting' planar portions, the included angle at each intersection being less than 180 at the interi'or face of said planar portions and the lines of' intersection all being substantially parallel to each other, and in which said tubular beam of the inflatable main frame has a relatively greater diameter than that of said tubular struts and conforms to said planar portions of said covering section in the inflated condition of said main frame.

9;, An inflatable shelter as defined in claim 7 in which said covering section of the individual sectional structure in the upright supported condition comprises six successive intersecting planar portions, the included angle at each intersection being less than 180 at the interior face of said planar portions and the lines of intersection all being substantially parallel to each other, and. in which said tubular beam of the inflatable main frame hasla relatively greater diameter than that of said tubular struts and has integrally united tapered portions in series conforming to said planar portions of said covering section in the inflated condition of said main frame, and in which said tubular struts are of substantiallyuniform diameter'and extend substantially parallel to one another longitudinally ofthe shelter.

10. An inflatable shelter as deflnedin claim '7 in which: said covering section, of: the individual sectional str-ucturein the. upright supported condition: comprises five, successive intersectin planar portions, the included angle at each intersection being less than at the interior face of said planar portions and the lines of intersection all being, substantially parallel to each other, and in which said tubular beam of, the inflatable main frame has a relatively greater diameter than that of said tubular struts and isof substantially uniform diameterthroughout and conforms to said planar portions of said covering section in the inflated condition of: said main frame, and in which said tubular struts are of substantially uniform diameter throughout and extend substantially parallel to one another longitudinally of the shelter.

11. An inflatable: shelter comprising a sectional covering having a series of sections of flexible impervious sheet material extending from end to end of the shelter with margins in juxtaposition, slide fastener means including a flexible sealing element on said margins for separably joining andv closing the margins, a supporting framework of interconnected inflatable tubular elements for maintaining said sectional covering upright to provide sidewalls and roof of the shelter, means for inflating said framework, said framework having one of said inflatable tubular elements disposed at each end of the shelter and extending transversely of the shelter along said coverin in supporting attached relation thereto, and an end wall of flexible impervious sheet material attached to each of the last said tubular elements and extending continuously across the end of the shelter for closingfithe same, one of the end walls having an opening therein for entrance into the shelter and means for closing said opening.

1 2. An inflatable shelter comprising a basic individualsectional structure comprisin a covering section of flexible impervious sheet material having ends and an inflatable main frameof interconnected inflatable tubular elements for maintaining said covering section upright to provide sidewalls and roof of the shelter, one of said tubular elements extending transversely of the shelter along said covering section at an end thereof in supporting attached relation thereto and supporting awall of flexible impervious sheet material in dependent disposition at said end of said covering section for closing the end of the shelter, and supporting and closing means for attachment to said sectional structure at the other end of said covering. section, said means comprisingan inflatable tubular element extending transversely of the shelter along said covering section at said other end thereof for supporting thesame andhaving a wall offlexible impervious sheet material attached thereto and dependent therefrom for closing the other end of the shelter, and means for separably attaching the first said means to said basic individual sectional structure.

13. An inflatable mainframe fora sectional supporting framework, adapted to maintain upright a flexible sectional covering of a shelter, said main frame comprising an inflatable tubular element ofinvertedgenerally U-shaped configuration having closed ends for disposition upright and transversely of the shelter in substantially conforming supporting relation toa section of the covering, the legs of the U providing supportfor the sidewalls of the shelter and the base ofthe U- providing support for the roof of the shelter, and a plurality of inflatable tubular ele- 13 merits spaced-apart along the U-shaped element in communication therewith and projecting therefrom at a side thereof longitudinally of the shelter and terminating in closed ends for at- I tachment to an adjacent section of said. framework and for disposition in supporting relation to the sidewalls and roof portion of said section of the covering. 1

14. An inflatable main frame as defined in claim 13 in which the U-shaped tubular element m is of greater diameter as compared to that of said plurality of inflatable tubular elements, and said plurality of inflatable tubular elements are of substantially uniform diameter throughout and extend longitudinally of the shelter in spacedapart substantially parallel relation one to the other.

15. An inflatable main frame as defined in claim 13 in which the u-shaped tubular element lar element at the junctions of said legs with said base of the U and also at said midpoints of the legs and base of the U.

EDWXN B. KATZENMEYER.

CARROLL P. 'KRUPP.

REFERENGES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS v Number Name Date 1,820,412 Warren Aug. 25, 1931 1,827,486 Poulsen Oct. 13, 1931 1,964,818 Hood July 3, 1934 

